Yes the Egg type BBQ grill is along the lines I was thinking of, but laid on its side. Think of a propane tank laid on its side and split horizontaly so the top is a lid.

I think that design would be problematic. It works with metal grills because metal weighs a lot less and handles impact better than clay. A hinged lid with a wide domed lid is going to be heavy, and ceramic will get very hot during firing, so the effort of lifting it and the pain of the heat might be problematic. When you close the lid it could cause cracks on impact if the user does not have good upper body strength.

The Big Green Egg design works well because you are only lifting a small portion (the top) of the egg so it is lighter and you are not getting as much flame opening and closing the lid.